Dairy Producers' Priorities for Agricultural Labor Policy Reform

Labor scarcity is a growing concern among dairy producers in the United States. Dairy farmers are currently precluded from using the H-2A visa program because H-2A visas are only granted to farmers who have job vacancies that are seasonal or temporary in nature. Using survey data from dairy farmers in the Great Lakes region, this study examines producer policy priorities across a range of policy options intended to address agricultural labor shortages. Results indicate that farmers most strongly support expanding the H-2A program to cover nonseasonal positions. Other highly preferred options include granting undocumented workers access to legal status and providing financial incentives to employers to provide worker housing. In contrast, training programs, workforce development initiatives, health benefits, and policies allowing undocumented workers to obtain driver’s licenses were the policies less likely to gather support. Policy preferences vary by farmer education, herd size, and workforce characteristics, underscoring the importance of designing labor policy reforms that reflect differences across dairy operations.